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In recognition of a long-standing career of influential scientific contributions to neurotoxicology and her seminal work defining how environmental exposures and gene–environment interactions disrupt nervous system development and function, Pamela J. Lein, PhD, is presented with the 2026 SOT Distinguished Toxicology Scholar Award. 

Dr. Lein received her BS from Cornell University, MS from East Tennessee State University, and PhD in pharmacology and toxicology from the State University of New York at Buffalo, followed by postdoctoral training at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. She held faculty positions at Johns Hopkins University and Oregon Health & Science University before joining the University of California Davis (UC Davis) in 2008, where she became Professor of Neurotoxicology in 2010, Distinguished Professor of Neurotoxicology in 2025, and has served as Department Chair since 2018. 

Dr. Lein is internationally recognized for pioneering mechanistic studies that have reshaped the understanding of how environmental chemicals perturb neuronal connectivity and neurodevelopment. Her research has explained how polychlorinated biphenyls and related persistent organic pollutants alter calcium signaling, activate ryanodine receptors, and disrupt dendritic growth and synaptogenesis, thereby providing critical insight into how developmental exposure to these compounds contributes to neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder. Her work has further demonstrated how genetic susceptibilities interact with toxicant exposures to modify risk and severity of neurologic disease, advancing the field’s framework for gene–environment interactions in brain development and function. 

Dr. Lein has also made major contributions to translational neurotoxicology and chemical threat preparedness. As Director of the UC Davis CounterACT Center of Excellence, she leads multidisciplinary teams developing therapeutics and tools to prevent or mitigate the chronic neurological consequences of organophosphate nerve agent and pesticide intoxication, including novel seizure countermeasures and imaging approaches for early detection of brain injury. Her research program addresses additional high-priority public health concerns, such as the mechanisms by which traffic-related air pollution and ultrafine particles exacerbate Alzheimer’s disease–relevant phenotypes and how persistent pesticides and other environmental contaminants contribute to neurodegenerative and seizure disorders. The Lein Lab has been continuously funded by the US National Institutes of Health since 1997 and is currently supported by multiple NIH institutes through various awards. 

Equally outstanding are Dr. Lein’s scholarly achievements and service to the profession. She is the author of more than 275 peer-reviewed journal articles and numerous reports and book chapters and is a highly sought-after speaker at national and international scientific meetings. She has played a prominent role in advisory efforts that strengthen the scientific basis for regulatory decision-making related to neurotoxicology, including service on the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Committee on Toxicology, the Board of Scientific Counselors for the National Toxicology Program (Chair, 2023–2024), and California’s Scientific Review Panel on Toxic Air Contaminants and as an expert author for the US Environmental Protection Agency IRIS assessment of polychlorinated biphenyls. She has provided extensive editorial leadership as Editor-in-Chief of NeuroToxicology and as an Associate Editor or Editorial Board member for multiple leading toxicology and environmental health journals. Her contributions have been recognized through numerous honors, including being elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges Excellence in Research Award, the Zoetis Award for Veterinary Research Excellence, and the SOT Neurotoxicology Specialty Section (NTSS) Distinguished Neurotoxicologist Award. 

As a dedicated and influential mentor, Dr. Lein has provided formal mentoring to more than 150 trainees at all levels, including junior faculty, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and undergraduates, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in academia, government, and industry. Her commitment to mentoring and training has been recognized by the SOT Women in Toxicology Mentoring Award and by multiple institutional awards from UC Davis for graduate advising and mentoring. Within SOT, she has served in numerous leadership roles, including President of the Neurotoxicology Specialty Section, Chair of the SOT Education and Career Development Committee, Endowment Fund steward for the Neurotoxicology Specialty Section, and President of the Northern California Regional Chapter, while organizing and contributing to many SOT Symposia and Continuing Education courses. 

Through her innovative and impactful research, regulatory and editorial leadership, and outstanding dedication to training the next generation of scientists, Dr. Lein exemplifies the scientific excellence and service celebrated by the SOT Distinguished Toxicology Scholar Award.